Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 64

 

ep11. Stealing the Five Senses (9)

 

A beacon tower is a structure built to light signal fires.

 

Bell-shaped, made of stacked stones, about 3 meters high.

 

There’s a furnace in the center for lighting fires and producing smoke.

 

And beneath this furnace is a gaping hole, connected to the “Anthill.”

 

That place is exactly the spawning ground of the “Executioner Ants.”

 

At the same time, it was the central area where the core of this Special Zone was located.

 

I descended using the wire.

 

Coming down this vertical passage with no stairs or ladder made me dizzy all over again.

 

Going back up won’t be easy.

 

I hope this place doesn’t become my grave…

 

When I illuminated the front with my searchlight, I could see a long tunnel.

 

The ceiling was quite high, so there was no need to crawl.

 

“Deputy Manager, what happened to the bird?”

 

-It disappeared. It’s no longer being observed.

 

Yun U-jeong answered Kwon Mu-seop’s question.

 

Just like the crow had caused chaos at the “Warehouse-style Mart” and then suddenly vanished, this time too it had gone somewhere as soon as we entered the “Anthill.”

 

It felt like we were being played, but there was no turning back now.

 

Since we were already inside, we had no choice but to proceed.

 

I moved forward into the tunnel together with Kwon Mu-seop.

 

After walking for a while.

 

I stopped-

 

“Why?”

 

“…There are ant eggs here.”

 

I muttered while looking at the massive mass.

 

About 2 meters high, with a circumference of roughly two arm-spans.

 

An ivory-colored oval object was heavily occupying one side of the tunnel.

 

“That’s not an egg, it’s probably a pupa. When the number of active ‘Ants’ drops to less than half, they immediately prepare the next generation.”

 

Isn’t that even worse?

 

That means if we crack open that cocoon, those monster ants will crawl out.

 

The three “Ants” outside aren’t going to suddenly die of natural causes, right?

 

-Manager, you need to finish exploring the “Anthill” within 30 minutes. Otherwise, it’ll really become terrible.

 

Perhaps having similar thoughts to mine, Yun U-jeong spoke seriously.

 

As she said, we didn’t have much time.

 

The next “Ant” in sequence would come this way soon and attack us.

 

Then we’d have no choice but to catch it, and it would be fine to catch up to numbers 3 and 4.

 

But if we encounter the last “Ant,” number 5, here, and if we catch that “Ant,” the ant eggs here would hatch all at once and swarm us.

 

Then this place would truly become our grave.

 

Time management was crucial.

 

We had to finish exploring the “Anthill” and get outside to renew our marks before the 5th “Ant” arrived.

 

So, what should I do now?

 

I had come this far following that bird’s intentions.

 

What comes next? Am I supposed to wander around aimlessly looking for items?

 

What am I supposed to do when hints are given halfway like this?

 

If this were really a game, I would have demanded a refund immediately.

 

-The 3rd “Ant” is approaching the beacon tower.

 

I haven’t even found a clue yet, and already…

 

“Manager, when the 3rd one comes, I’ll try using Baek Sa-ra’s ring.”

 

“Alright, let’s give it a try.”

 

I suggested this since it seemed like we’d get nowhere otherwise.

 

If the “Ant” is also afraid of this ring, we could at least buy some time.

 

Kwon Mu-seop nodded without objection, and we waited for the 3rd “Ant” in that state.

 

Then, news that made me doubt my ears came through.

 

-Manager! “Alpha” has been observed! At B-7 Point!

 

“Alpha”?

 

Why is that name coming up now?

 

-3rd “Ant” silent! “Alpha” has attacked the 3rd “Ant”!

 

“…!”

 

What is this?!

 

Not only had “Alpha,” which was being observed on “The Bleeding Island,” suddenly crossed over to this side, but it had attacked an “Ant”?

 

A mercenary individual attacking a dangerous entity from another Special Zone.

 

I had never seen or heard of such a record.

 

Then what was this exceptional situation?

 

Could it be targeting us?

 

-The 4th “Ant” is moving toward “Alpha.” “Alpha” is also moving toward the 4th. Both are running at full speed, they’ll make contact within 3 minutes!

 

My prediction was correct.

 

“Alpha” was trying to exterminate the current generation of “Executioner Ants.”

 

-You need to get out of the “Anthill” immediately!

 

“No, I’m going to continue to the central area like this.”

 

-Manager!

 

“If we go out now, we’ll die.”

 

-…!

 

“Even if we leave the tunnel, we’ll still be chased by the ‘Ants,’ and in the current situation, we can’t deal with ‘Alpha’ either. I’d rather go to the central area and destroy the core.”

 

Are you planning to reset this Special Zone?

 

Certainly, that’s the only way we can survive right now.

 

But if that happens…

 

“Deputy Manager, what’s Team 1’s situation?”

 

-They just confirmed “Alpha’s” departure and are attempting a breakthrough.

 

At Yun U-jeong’s report, Kwon Mu-seop resumed his briefly halted steps.

 

He walked as if he could see ahead and said to me.

 

“Do-un, did you hear? ‘Alpha’ stopped dealing with our elite forces and came this way. What do you think that means?”

 

“Does it mean we’ve caught them off guard?”

 

“It means your survival is the most important thing. So run.”

 

Kwon Mu-seop drove the point home to my hesitation and picked up speed.

 

I also emptied my head and followed behind him for now.

 

-4th “Ant” silent! “Alpha” is heading toward the 5th “Ant”!

 

Damn, it feels like a knife is pressed against my heart.

 

-Fork in the road ahead!

 

At Yun U-jeong’s shout, Kwon Mu-seop stopped abruptly.

 

“A fork?”

 

-It seems to be a newly formed structure since the last exploration.

 

“Then let’s go left first.”

 

Kwon Mu-seop chose without hesitation.

 

After running like that for several more minutes.

 

-5th “Ant” silent!

 

In the end, the “Ants” were completely wiped out.

 

-“Alpha” is heading back toward the beacon tower!

 

“Do-un, give me the gun!”

 

Kwon Mu-seop took back the rifle he had entrusted to me.

 

“Take the pistol and stick to my back. He can’t spit ‘Ant Thread’ properly for a while, so ignore it.”

 

Kwon Mu-seop quickly gave instructions and ran again.

 

I ran alongside him while taking off the glove on my left hand.

 

Then I gripped the pistol Kwon Mu-seop had given me with both hands.

 

Creak creak—

 

The pupae in the corridor began to move.

 

Crack— Creak—

 

Sounds of something tearing continued, but Kwon Mu-seop ignored it and kept running.

 

Rip—!

 

Finally, one pupa tore open and an “Executioner Ant” stuck its head out.

 

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!

 

Kwon Mu-seop fired his gun in that direction as if he’d been waiting for it.

 

The newly born ant died without even properly emerging from its hard cocoon.

 

Then Kwon Mu-seop shot at every sound of a cocoon tearing open.

 

How long did we run like that?

 

“Section Chief, it’s a dead end!”

 

“Let’s go back.”

 

Kwon Mu-seop quickly turned around while changing magazines.

 

As we retraced our path, we inevitably had to face them.

 

The “Ants” that had hatched behind us.

 

—Four “Ants” ahead!

 

Rat-tat-tat-tat—!

 

Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!

 

Kwon Mu-seop fired wildly and I shot the ones that came forward.

 

We continued advancing like that.

 

—”Alpha”! Entered the “Anthill”!

 

We finally reached “Alpha.”

 

Damn, the final boss has arrived.

 

We need to destroy the core before he catches us.

 

We kept running back toward the branching point, taking down “Ants” along the way.

 

Yun U-jeong could no longer inform us of “Alpha’s” movements.

 

It was natural. There were no surveillance cameras inside this tunnel.

 

We could no longer tell where “Alpha” was or what he was doing.

 

Then suddenly, Kwon Mu-seop shouted.

 

“Do-un, put on your mask!”

 

Mask?

 

I wondered why he was suddenly saying this, then felt my throat and eyes stinging.

 

I had no idea because my sense of smell was paralyzed.

 

It seemed “Alpha” had done something.

 

We hurriedly put on our masks.

 

Meanwhile, the tunnel became thick with smoke.

 

Damn, did he set a fire?

 

Even as our vision rapidly blurred, “Ants” kept swarming endlessly.

 

Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen…

 

I counted every “Ant” we caught without missing any.

 

If only one remained, couldn’t we somehow handle it with the ring?

 

Or if we quickly exterminated them all, couldn’t we buy some time before the next generation of “Ants” hatched?

 

I frantically strategized while catching “Ants” again and again.

 

But our real threat was no longer the “Ants.”

 

Stop—!

 

When we almost reached the branching point, Kwon Mu-seop raised his hand and stopped.

 

We had caught 25 “Ants” so far.

 

But the attacks suddenly stopped.

 

I didn’t know where the remaining three were.

 

Whether they hadn’t molted yet, or were napping somewhere.

 

A breathless silence fell.

 

In the eerie quiet, Kwon Mu-seop seemed to sense something and watched the front.

 

I looked too, but couldn’t see anything through the thick smoke.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

—Front!

 

Whizz-whizz-whizz-whizz-whizz—!

 

Something flew through the smoke toward us.

 

Kwon Mu-seop fired rapidly at that massive shadow.

 

Thud— Thud thud thud—! Crash—!

 

What fell after being shot was an “Ant’s”… head?

 

The “Ant” head that fell to the floor was missing its body for some reason.

 

In that state, its salivary glands had burst and were just dripping “Ant Thread.”

 

What is this…

 

Swoosh—!

 

While we were distracted by the “Ant” head, something charged at Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop.

 

The thing that crouched low and sprang from a blind spot was short-haired Cha Si-eon.

 

It was “Alpha.”

 

“Urgh…!”

 

I was about to feed that smug face a bullet, but changed my mind and pulled Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop’s neck.

 

It was a reflexive action at the crossroads of life and death, and it was the right choice.

 

“Alpha” was too fast for me to aim and hit.

 

Moreover, the knife he swung was precisely targeting Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop’s vital point.

 

Clang—!

 

“Alpha’s” knife missed and tangled with Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop’s rifle.

 

Kwon Mu-seop, having grasped “Alpha’s” position, regained his balance and pulled the trigger.

 

Click—!

 

“Alpha” kicked Kwon Mu-seop’s rifle and knocked out the magazine.

 

Rat—! Click, click—!

 

The rifle became an empty toy, and “Alpha” swung his knife again.

 

Thwack, clang-clang—!

 

Kwon Mu-seop blocked the knife with the rifle body.

 

But even Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop couldn’t handle “Alpha” while unable to see.

 

“Alpha’s” knife struck Kwon Mu-seop’s body repeatedly.

 

Even when I tried to support with my pistol, there was no opening to intervene.

 

When I had no choice but to join in physically.

 

Crash—!

 

To make matters worse, an “Executioner Ant” charged at us.

 

But…

 

Crunch—!

 

That “Ant” bit into “Alpha’s” side.

 

What? Could it be a replacement for the “Ant” that “Alpha” killed?

 

Anyway, an opening appeared.

 

Bang—!

 

The bullet I fired lodged in “Alpha’s” shoulder.

 

Bang—!

 

The next shot went to its torso.

 

It seemed to be shocked as its body convulsed.

 

With the “Ant’s” fangs embedded in its side, it couldn’t resist or counterattack.

 

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

I aimed at its head for the final shot.

 

Bang-!

 

Craaack-!

 

The moment I pulled the trigger.

 

Perhaps even faster than that, “Alpha” twisted the “Ant’s” neck.

 

Swoooosh-!

 

And transparent mucus burst forth from the “Executioner Ant’s” salivary glands.

 

The raw material of “Ant Thread” scattered in all directions, covering everything in that spot.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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